effect of exercise therapy on shoulder pain, flexibility and mobility in patients with shoulder overuse syndrome in comparison with physiotherapy

Shoulder Overuse injuries can cause pain, limitation of shoulder motions and reducing soft tissue flexibility which affect upper extremity functions. Stretching and strengthening exercises, as an eflfective way, arerecommended to improvepain, flexibility and mobility in shoulder Overuse syndrome. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of scapular stabilization exercises to improve pain, flexibility and mobility in patients with shoulder Overuse syndrome. A randomized clinical trial was designed in which 69 patients with shoulder Overuse syndrome were attended; they were randomly assigned into two groups of exercise therapy [ET; n=33] and physiotherapy [PT; n=35]. All participants received 18 sessions of exercise therapy or conventional physiotherapy in the Sports Medicine Assessment Clinic; Hazrat Rasoul Akram Educational Hospital. Pain, shoulder's range of abduction and external rotation and pectoralis minor length were evaluated. All measurements were done before and after intervention. Our findings indicate an increase in abduction [P=0.024] and external rotation [P=0.001] range and shoulder flexibility of the involved shoulder in both groups but significant difference was observed in exercise therapy group [Anthropometric Measurement P<0/0001, Measurement with Right Angle P=0.002]. Pain reduction was shown in both groups and there was no significant difference between them. [P-0.576] Findings this study showed in pain reduction, increased of abduction and external rotation range and also improvement in flexibility of shoulder after 6-weeks involved of exercise therapy

[Risk factors for ankle sprain injury among lranian athletes]

Ankle sprains are the most common musculoskeletal injuries that occur in athletes all over the world. Ankle sprains can also cause longterm disability such as ankle pain, Functional ankle instability, postural disorders, recurrent ankle sprain and etc. The purpose of this study was to examine prospectively intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors for ankle sprains in 125 Iranian athletes that were divided into two groups: Healthy and Injured groups. Ankle range of motions, Achilles Tendon's flexibility and Calf's size were measured and related questionnaire was completed. Ankle sprains were more common in soccer, basketball and volleyball than other sports. Severe ankle inversion was the most common [94/4%] mechanism of ankle sprain. Fatigue, not warming up, improper landing, ankle rotations were expressed by the athletes as the main reasons causing their ankle sprains. There were no significant differences between ages, weight, height, training sessions, playing surfaces, foot wears and ankle sprains. Most interestingly was the significant relation between balance training and ankle sprain prevention. [P value = 0.00574]. The intrinsic factors such as fatigue, not warming up, improper landing were most common risk factors for ankle sprain in Iranian athletes. One of the main findings of the present study was the positive role of balance training as a key factor in prevention of ankle sprains.